Thread-holding device for embroidering-machines.



M. EGHOENFELD. THREAD HOLDING DEVICE FOR EMBROIDEBING MACHINES.

Patented Feb. 10

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2, 1912 LUSGAFQ.

IIIIIIIIIIII(II4 T MORRIS SCHO'ENFELD, OF HORSCHACH, SWITZERLAND.

THREAD-HOLDING DEVICE FOR EMBBOIDERING-MACHINES.

Application filed February 2, 1912.

T0 cZZ whom 2'25 may concern 2 Be it known that I, Mourns SCHOENFELD, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of Rorschach, in the Cantonof St. Gall, Switzerland, have invented a certain new and useful Threadl'lolding Device for Embroidering-Machines, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to a device for temporarily holding the manythreads in large embroidering machines wherein a great many stitchingdevices simultaneously produce a design in multiple upon a fabric.

My present device is primarily for the purpose of grippii'ig the threadswhen the fabric is moved from one stitch position to another as when onerow of embroidery has been completed by a row of stitching elements andbefore another row is commenced at a diiferent point; or where thethreads are carried over from one part of a design to another in such amanner that the threads between two such stitches have to be removedfrom the fabric by being cut away. lVhere these usually long stitchesare made and the intermediate threads have to be removed, the threadsare usually termed jump threads. The purpose of my present device is toengage and hold such threads in such a manner that the threads may beeasily and quickly severed close to the fabric and the ends of thethreads coming from the stitching elements (such as the needles) may beproperly held until a stitch is made in the new position of the fabric,in order that the threads will not pull out of the needle eyes and inorder that the free ends of the threads remaining after the new stitchis made may be severed from the fabric.

The object of my present invention is to provide a very simple devicesuitable for a large number of threads wherein cooperating elements willgrip the threads between them. In my copending application Serial Number562,600 and filed May 21, 1910, I showed a device of this kind wherein anumber of gripping elements were arranged upon a common support andwherein a number of elements for cooperating with the gripping elementswere mounted upon a different common support and the support-s wererelatively movable in order that the elements on the latter supportwould cause the threads to be brought into locking engagement with thegripping elements. It is Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 10, 1914.

Serial No. 675,016.

difficult to arrange a large number of such elements upon commonsupports to extend substantially the length of the machine and to somove the supports as to cause each en gaging finger to properly grip thethread between them and the gripping members, because, while one or anumber of fingers may properly hold their threads in proper manner withtheir gripping elements others will fail to so closely grip the threadsas to obtain the desired results. One or several fingers may be bentslightly and cause this finger or some other fingers to improperly holdtheir thread. It is necessary in the large embroidering machines tomount a number of the different elements on a c0mmon support asotherwise the device would become too complex; and in mounting a numberupon a common support it is diflicult to cause all the engaging fingersto accurately cooperate with their respective gripping elements whichare mounted upon another common support, which is movable relatively tothe first support. A slight bending action of a finger will cause it tomake improper contact with the thread. In the present device I mount theengaging fingore and the gripping members each upon a common bar andprovide means for retaining the bars in proper relation with each other.In addition I connect the several engaging fingers in such a manner thatthey will be guided relatively to their gripping elements so that theywill always enter between them properly and grip the threads.

In addition to the above my present in vention embodies a device which,with but a few parts, performs several different functions. For instanceI have arranged the thread holding device in such a way that the membersoperate as detents for pressing the fabric in the manner that ordinarydetents operate; and in addition the thread holding elements are soformed and operated that they also serve as festoon hooks with whichscallop stitches are formed; thus reducing the number of elements uponthe embroidering machine.

In the drawings forming a part of this application, Figure 1, is anelevation, showing my invention, with the thread elements .in the openor thread receiving position,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevation, partly broken away, of the threadholdlng members, in the position of holding the threads,

Fig. 3, is a horizontal section thereof showing the parts in the sameposition as in Fig. 1, and Fig. 4, is a cross section thereof,which alsoshows the device for operating the elements as detents.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention I have shown several of thethread devices arranged in a row, from which the application of myinvention to actual practice will be readily understood by those skilledin the art.

It is to be understood that the thread elements are multipliedthroughout the length of. the machine so that there willbe a clampingmember and a cooperating finger for each of the many threads of theembroidering machine. I have shown a longitudinally disposed bar 1,which may be of any desired cross section, but which I prefer to makesemicircular, disposed lengthwise of the machine and supported by meansof shafts 2, upon the standards 3, which constitute part of thestationary frame of the embroidery machine. The standard 3, has abracket 4, which serves as a journal for the shaft 2, and surroundingthe shaft I have arranged a coiled spring 5, which lies in the opening6, in the bracket and presses on its upper end against the latter and atits lower end against the pin 7, in the shaft. The bracket 4, guides theshaft 2, and through this connection supports the longitudinal bar 1,and the tendency of the spring 5, is to keep the bar 1, in the lowerposition shown in Fig. 1. The shaft 2, and the bracket 4, are duplicatedas many times along the machine as the length and weight of the bar 1,may require. Upon the bracket 8, also supported upon the standard 3, Ihave shown a lever fulcrumed at the point 9; and one arm 10 of thislever engages under the hub 11, on the bar 1, and the purpose of thisarm, and as many others as may be used along the machine, is to raisethe bar 1, to carry out certain operations to be hereinafter referredto.

The downwardly extending arm 12 of this lever connects with a link 13,which is guided in a guide 15, preferably upon another standard 14. Thebracket 16, on the standard 14, supports an angle lever 17, to one arm18 of which the link 13, is fulcrumed and to the other arm 19 of whichan operating rod 20, is fulcrumed. By means of cam 21, acting upon theroller 22, of the rod 20, the reciprocating motion is transmittedthrough the device just described for the purpose of raising the bar 1.I also impart a longitudinal movement to the bar 1, by means of an anglelever 23, which is fulcrumed upon a bracket 24. One arm 25, of th slever is connected with the bar 1, by a pin and slot connection topermit of the up and down movement of the bar 1, referred to; andanother arm 26, of this lever is connected with an operating rod 27. By

means of a suitable cam 28, acting upon the roller 29, of this operatingrod, a reciproeating motion is imparted through the lever 23, to the bar1, and the motion is imparted in the direction of the length of the bar.

At intervals along the bar 1, I provide supporting members which arehere shown as plates 30, bolted upon the flat side of the barandextending upwardly; and at their upper free ends they are curvedpreferably in a semi-circle to form supporting and guiding means forsecond longitudinally disposed bar 32; and the latter is firmly held andguided by the several members 31, but is movable longitudinally inrelation thereto. The bar 1, carries a longitudinal plate 33, from whichextend upwardly a number of arms 34, which at their upper ends are 6?!-tended laterally to form a part of a gripping device for gripping thesewing thread. The arms 34, are preferably turned outwardly at theirupper ends 35, or away from the fabric 36. These arms 34, are soarranged in relation to the fabric that their upper plates 37, will liein close proximity and. parallel to, the plane of the fabric. The upperplate 37, of each of these arms is pro vided with a spring plate 38,having a free resilient end 39, arranged to cooperate with a portion ofthe plate 37; and the plates 38, are preferably secured to plates 37 bymeans of rivets 40. These spring plates are shown curved outwardly at41, and they are provided with longitudinally disposed openings 42, forthe purpose of receiving a part of the cooperating devices.

The bar 32, has a plate 44, extending along the same and at intervals Iprovide upwardly extending arms 43, preferably equal in number to theseveral arms 34. The upper end of each arm 43, has a plate 45 which isarranged in line with the opening between the resilient plate 39 and themember 37, and between which members the plate 45 is adapted to be movedin the operation of engaging and holding the sewing thread. In orderthat all of the several plates 45, will always be guided so as to enterbetween the spring 39, and the plate 3'7. and in order that they willproperly cooperate therewith to hold the threads I have connected theseveral plates 45, with each other by means of a longitudinally disposedconnecting bar 46 which reciprocates between the spring 39, and plate 37and moves in the recesses 42.

It will be understood from the description herein that the bars 1 and 32are relatively movable in order that the thread holding plates may bemoved from the position shown in Fig. 1, to the position shown in Fig.2. I preferably arrange means for moving the bar 32, longitudinally inrelation to the bar 1, when the several threads are to be gripped. Forthis purpose I have arranged on a bracket 47, on the standard 14, alever 48, which is preferably operated by hand and the link 49 whichconnects with the lower end of this lever, is connected with the bar 32,and is adapted to reciprocate the latter in the direction of its length.The reciprocation of the bar 32 will cause all of the several arms 43,to move there with and in relation to the plates 37 and 39. I preferablyprovide means for rocking the bar 1, toward and from the fabric 36 inorder that the upper ends or plates 37, of the arms 34, will operate asdetents and per form the usual function of the detent-s. That is, theywill press the fabric at a point near the needle and at a time when theneedle is being withdrawn from the fabric during the formation of astitch. F or this purpose there is an arm 51 extending from the bar 1,and it carries a roller 57, which contacts with a cam 53 on a shaft 59.Whenever the shaft 59 and cam 53 are operated, they 7 cause the rockingof arm 51, and therefore the oscillation of the bar 1. The oscillationsof the latter will cause the plates 37 of the arms 34 to contact withthe fabric and operate thereon similar to ordinary detents.

The upper portion of each plate 45, is preferably arranged to act as afestoon hook and to perform the usual function of such a hook. I haveshown the upper end divided into two parts 54 and 55 the formereXtending slightly above the latter and forming an intermediate opening56 between them.

Operation: If after the production of a row of embroidery or after theproduction of a part of the design it is desired to proceed at asomewhat distant point with the stitching operation and it is desired tohave no thread passing from the last stitch of the one design or portionof design, to the new design or portion of design, the operation will beas followsz liet it be assumed that the last stitch made by each needle57 is at the point x in Fig. 1. If the arms 43 are not in the positionshown in Fig. 1, then the hand lever 48, will be moved in order toreciprocate the bar 32, to bring the arms 43, in the position shown inFig. 1. That is to say, the plates 45 are each to be separated from thecooperating plates 39, 37 The fabric will then be moved downwardly inthe usual manner and this will bring the thread which is now runningfrom the point an to the respective needle 57 across the open space 58,the plates. and 37 and 39. \Vhile in this position the lever 48, will berocked sufliciently to move the plates 45 between the spring plate 39and the plate 37, and, in moving, the plate 45 will carry the thread 59therewith. The resilient plate 39, plate 37 and the plate 45, cotiperateto firmly hold the sewing thread which lies between the point 0: atwhich the last stitch was formed, and the needle. The lip 35, willinsure the proper guiding of the thread as it is carried by the plate45. The position of the parts at the time the threads are gripped isclearly shown in Fig. 2. The operator now proceeds to out the threadsbetween the stitch a2 and the gripping plates. For this purpose a knifemay be passed along close to the fabric so that all the threads of a rowmay be quickly severed close to the fabric. With the parts still in theposition shown in Fig. 2, and holding the end of the thread coming fromthe several needles, the fabric may be moved to any desired positionrelative to the needles and a new design or new portion of design maythen be started at any desired distance. from the stitch a". As soon asone or more stitches have been made by the needles in this new operationthe machine will be temporarily stopped and the operator will again passthe knife between the fabric and the gripping plates and this time thethread running from the latter to the fabric will be severed close tothe latter. The gripping plates serve not only to hold the thread whileit is being cut from the stitch m, but also serve to hold the free endsof the threads coming from the stitching elements while the latter ismaking one or more stitches in the commencement of the new design sothat the thread will not be withdrawn from the stitching elements.

The principal feature of the present invention is in the means forguiding the several thread engaging plates relatively to theircotiperating plates so that it is possible to provide a large number ofgripping plates upon a common support and a large number of coiiperatingplates also upon a common support and to preserve both of these inproper cooperative relation. It will be observed that the bar 32 iscarried by the bar 1, and is uided relatively thereto by the members 31.It will also be observed that the several arms 43, are connected witheach other by the plate 46, and that the latter guide the plates 45,relatively to the plates 37, 39. Each of the plates 45, are thereforecaused to properly pass be tween the gripping plates upon theirreciprocating movement. \Vhile the gripping plates are arrangedprimarily to grip the threads they may, when constructed as hereinshown, perform the function of festoon members. That is to say thethread may be passed over the projections 54 and 55 to cast a loop inthe usual manner and a stitch may then be formed by passing the needlethrough the opening 56 thereby forming a button hole stitch in the usualmanner. For this purpose the lever 10, imparts the up and down movementto the bar and the lever 23, imparts a longitudinal movement thereto forthe purpose of causing the plates 45 to move relatively to the needlesin the op eration of casting a loop over the needle.

As the operation of festoon members is in such cooperative relation thatthey will properly hold the several threads. It is also apparent that adevice embodying all the features herein shown may be used not only forgripping the threads but also for performing the function of a detentdevice and a festoon mechanism with no more parts in front of the fabricthan would be required for the gripping device alone.

Having described my invention, what I claim is 1. In an embroideringmachine, stitching mechanism, a plurality of members mounted upon acommon support, a plurality of resilient members cooperating therewithto form gripping devices, a plurality of plates, mounted upon a commonsupport, and arranged to move between the members of the grippingdevices, and means for guiding said plates between the members of thegripping devices, said supports being relatively movable.

2. In an embroidering machine, stitching mechanisms, a plurality ofthread gripping elements comprising plates and springs, carried upon acommon support, a plurality of plates adapted to enter between the saidfirst plates and springs for the purpose of holding the sewing threads,a longitudinal member guided between said first plates and springs andconnecting the several second mentioned plates for the purpose ofguiding the latter in cooperative relation with said first plates andsprings, said second plates being mounted upon a common support, saidsupports being relatively movable.

3. In an embroidering machine, stitch ing mechanisms, a plurality ofthread gripping members comprising plates and at. In an embroideringmachine, stitching mechanisms, arms provided with thread grippingmembers and mounted upon a common rocking support, cooperating platesmounted upon a common support, said latter support being carried uponsaid first support, said arms being arranged to operate as detents, andmeans for rocking said supports.

In an embroidering machine, stitching mechanisms, thread grippingmembers mounted upon a common support, festoon forming memberscomprising plates mounted upon a common support and adapted to cooperatewith the gripping elements to grip the sewing threads, said supportsbeing relatively movable.

6. In an embroidering machine, stitching mechanisms, arms mounted upon acommon rocking support and provided with gripping elements, said armsbeing arranged to operate as detents, festoon forming member comp isingplates adapted to cooperate with the gripping elements to hold thesewing threads, said plates being mounted upon a common support, saidsupports being relatively movable and means for rocking said supportsand means for reciprocating said supports.

Signed at the city, county and State of New York, this 29th day ofJanuary 1912.

MORRIS SCHOENFELD.

lVitnesses ARTHUR K. KUi-rn, CHAS. J. GAVANAGH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. C.

